The Grind

If you’re halfway through a long trek and your feet are screaming, you’re probably blaming your socks or your boots. Often, the culprit isn’t your gear—it’s too much pressure on the wrong spots.

As your feet swell during a long day, they need room to breathe. If your laces are cinched down the same way at 50km as they were at the trailhead, you’re creating a "pressure trap" that restricts blood flow and forces your skin into the boot.